| Ultrasound technology allows medical professionals to | | | | downside that they are also more readily absorbed so |
| look inside a patient without resorting to surgery. A | | | | the waves cannot penetrate as deeply into the body. |
| transmitter is used to send high frequency sound | | | | Ultrazvuk abdomena is generally performed at |
| waves in the body; the waves bounce off the | | | | frequencies between 2-5 MHz. |
| different tissues and organs and hence produce a | | | | Bowel gas often makes it difficult to see internal |
| unique pattern of echoes. A receiver attached, hears | | | | organs. If a loop of gas-filled bowel lies between the |
| the returning echo pattern and it sends it to a | | | | transducer and the organ being imaged, an artifact |
| computer translating the data into an image on a | | | | called shadowing is seen on the image which blocks |
| television screen. Ultrasound can differentiate subtle | | | | the view of the organ. Patients are often asked to |
| variations between soft and fluid-filled tissues and is | | | | fast for eight hours prior to the examination which |
| very useful in providing diagnostic images of the | | | | allows bowel gas to subside for optimal imaging. |
| abdomen. | | | | Usually the patient undresses for this procedure. The |
| Ultrazvuk abdomena identifies abnormalities in liver, | | | | shirt is pulled up around the chest and towels are used |
| pancreas, gallbladder, spleen and kidneys. It is also used | | | | to protect the clothing from the ultrasound gel. This gel |
| to identify and see fetal development in pregnancy. | | | | is water based solvent and doesn't damage clothing. |
| Moreover, it is also used to help guide in procedures | | | | After drying it looks like a white splotch that can be |
| like needle biopsies. In this procedure a needle takes a | | | | easily removed. |
| small sample of tissue and then that sample is sent to | | | | The organs imaged during an Ultrazvuk abdomena |
| a laboratory. | | | | consist of pancreas which is located in the upper, |
| Ultrazvuk abdomena is non-ionizing radiation hence it | | | | middle region of the abdomen, liver - a large organ that |
| has no known negative effects. It is often used in | | | | lies in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen and its |
| conjunction with other imaging techniques. Ultrasound, | | | | size is measured. The patient usually lies on their back |
| x-ray, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) takes | | | | during the imaging of the liver and pancreas. The |
| body images using diverse technologies and every | | | | gallbladder is located underneath the liver and should |
| technique is quite helpful in determining mass properties | | | | be imaged with the patient in two positions, either lying |
| resulting in more complete diagnosis. | | | | on back or on the left side thus allowing the |
| Ultrasound procedure produces sound waves quite | | | | Sonographer to differentiate between gallstones and |
| above the frequency of human hearing capability that | | | | polyps as gallstones will move within the gallbladder |
| is about 20 thousand hertz, or cycles per second. | | | | with the change in position. Regardless of the potential |
| Medical ultrasound normally uses frequencies between | | | | difficulties encountered, ultrasound is faster and less |
| one and 10 million hertz (1-10 MHz). Higher the | | | | expensive than computed tomography scans (CT), its |
| frequency, the more detailed images but has a | | | | primary rival in abdominal imaging. |